48 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



in fresh water. It rises from the water with apparent labour, 

 and flies with rapidly whirred wings ; on the ground it is not 

 as good a walker as most of the surface-feeders, for the feet of 

 all diving ducks are better fitted for under-water progression 

 than for exercise on land. Its rote is harsh and grating, 

 another common character, though the drake is said to whistle. 

 The legs of the drake are red, the webs blackish ; those of 

 the duck, and her bill, are reddish brown. The male irides are 

 red, the female brown. In eclipse the drake resembles his 

 mate, though he retains indications of the crest ; young males 

 at first closely resemble females. Length, 22 ins. Wing, 

 io'5 ins. Tarsus, i'$ ins. 



White-eyed Pochard. Nyroca nyroca (Giild.). 



The White-eyed Pochard or Ferruginous Duck (Plate 15) is 

 another southern European and western Asiatic bird which 

 occasionally varies its normal south or eastward migration by 

 a northward wandering, and from time to time appears in our 

 eastern and southern counties, and more rarely still in the 

 west, or in Scotland and Ireland. In Egypt and India it is a 

 familiar winter duck. 



There is some excuse for confusing this species with the duck 

 Pochard, for its general colour pattern is similar, but birds of 

 either sex or at any age may be told by the presence of a white 

 wing bar. In addition, the drake has a much browner chestnut 

 head and neck than that of the drake Pochard, and his back is 

 umber, not grey with vcrmiculations, like that of the common 

 bird. On his chin is a small but distinct white spot, whilst the 

 white iris, from which he gets his name, is very noticeable ; in 

 the duck it is tinged with brown and her plumage is duller, 

 whilst young birds are even more dingy. The flanks of the 

 drake are more chestnut than the back, and the rest of the 

 under parts are white crossed by a greyish-brown band at 



